Newswise — Allen Carlson is a professor of government at Cornell University, has worked with the nonprofit National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and has published several books on Chinese foreign relations. He comments on the recent escape of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng from house arrest to the U.S. embassy in Beijing. Carlson says:
“Especially as it has occurred in the wake of the Wang Lijun incident, the case of Chen Guangcheng presents the Obama administration with a difficult diplomatic challenge. On the one hand, it is clear that the Chinese human rights activist, who appears to have taken shelter within the U.S. embassy in Beijing, cannot be returned to China. On the other hand, Chen can only leave the embassy, and travel to the U.S. with the acquiescence of the Chinese leadership.
“For the time being, the blind Chinese lawyer, and U.S.-China relations more broadly, are caught between these two positions. Going back for Chen is not an option, but moving forward will also not be easy. As such Chen's situation poses a rather stark test to both Beijing and Washington.
“The most likely outcome is one of grudging compromise which would see Chen leaving the embassy at some point in the coming days and traveling to America under the pretext of seeking ‘medical treatment.’ However, how such an outcome will be obtained is still difficult to discern, and the potential for disagreement and stand-off between the two countries also looms quite large.”
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